The Division
No.6 of Inner Mongolian Development Force occupies and makes
use of more than 10,000 square kilometers grassland and
forest of Ulgai, Mand-bulag, Bogd-uul, Heseg-uul, Bayannuur,
and Huulin-gol areas at the upper part of Ulgai River Valley
in Ujumchin Left Banner. More than 10,000 troops, peasant
workers, and retired soldiers are stationed there.
Grasslands are cultivated and Bogd-uul Mountain is
completely deforested.

In 1975, Development Force is
disbanded, and the above mentioned areas are taken over by
Inner Mongolian Land Cultivation Bureau. Ulgai Farm
Management Bureau is established there, and grasslands were
continued to be cultivated. In 1983, the Bureau is changed
to Ulgai Farm Business Joint Company. In February 1993,
Ulgai Open Economic Zone is established there. Lands are
rented to more than 20 companies for grazing, cultivating,
and other business activities that encourage peasants from
interior provinces to immigrate to Ulgai River Valley and
develop immigrant villages. In 1998, the dam of the river
breaks through its banks. In 2002, the League invests to
rebuild the dam.

Document (N/A)

1984

In 1984, Inner Mongolia starts
implementing pastoral area land contract policy, and
Mand-dulag Farm and Bogd-uul Mountain Forest Station are
returned under Ujumchin Left Banner’s jurisdiction.
Rehabilitation is announced to herd owners, and herds are
returned to them. Grassland is distributed according to the
number of people and contracted and managed by individuals.

On one hand, this “grassland equal
distribution” policy plays a positive role in which land use
right is clearly defined. However, on the other hand, it
results in the elimination of grassland traditional nomadic
lifestyle that has been practiced for thousands of years.
Wildlife free migration is also terminated as a result.

Left Ujumchin Banner Government Document

1985

“Grassland Law of the People’s Republic
of China” is passed to stop grassland cultivation.

“Grassland Act”

1986

By 1986, a
total of 16,000 hectare grassland is cultivated in Ulgai
River Valley.

By 1996,
cultivated area reaches 93,700 hectares, and a dam built on
the upper stream of Ulgai River threatens the eco-system of
lower basin of Ulgai River. In 1998, the dam of the river
breaks through its banks. In 2002, the League invests to
rebuild the dam.

Chinese Academy of Science document
1997

1986

“Land Management Law of the People’s
Republic of China” is passed to legally to regulate the
approval rights of converting farm land into development-use
land.

The government of Inner Mongolian
Autonomous Region adopts a series of policies and measures
(commission and investment rate 1% to 10%) to attract and
encourage investment. Enterprises from interior provinces
cease the opportunity to transfer their pollutions to the
areas. “For short term interests, some regions carry out
activities to transfer their wastes to the western areas
without hesitating to victimize the environment.”

Document

1996

When visiting the grassland, many
educated youths of the website ( Ceng Jing Cao Yuan – “Echoing
Steppe”) who were sent down to the grassland during
the Cultural Revolution see that in the south of Jiran-bulag
highway in Ujumchin Left Banner’s Bayan-hudag Som,
herders-contracted grassland is occupied by a Silver Mining
Company who opened up a mine and washed ore. Wide range of
grassland is destroyed by the randomly drained sewage and
tailing waters.

Document

1998

China’s “Land Management Act( Amended
)” is passed. “… Article 45, for taking over to make use of
the following lands, State Department approval is needed:
(1), basic farmland; (2), cultivated areas other than basic
farmland exceeded 35 hectares; (3), other type of lands
exceeded 70 hectares …”

On January 15,
Shiliin-gol League Economic Bureau and the owner of a
private firm called Bai Yang Dian Paper Mill sign on a lease
contract in which the latter rents Ujumchin Left Banner
Paper Mill’s 119 Mu (8 hectare) land including the factory
building, and the annual rental is 500,000 yuan and the rent
term is 15 years. On the contract, the government of
Ujumchin Left Banner promises to “provide the tenant with
enough free lands for sewage drain”. In June of the same
year, the paper mill arbitrarily drains heavily polluted
sewage to 7 herder households’ 3,000 Mu (200 hectare)
contracted grassland without having any “environmental
assessment”. “No pollution treatment infrastructure is
built, and the grassland is directly polluted”.

A private
mining company from Chi-feng City signs on a 20-year
contract with the government of Ujumchin Left Banner, and
illegally opens up mines of iron, zinc, and multi-metal, and
illegally occupies 5 herder househoulds’ 4,000 Mu (270
hectare) grassland in Mand-bulag Som. The website (Ceng Jing
Cao Yuan – “Echoing Steppe”) continues to make reports
on Ujumchin Left Banner’s grassland eco-system (herders
submit joint letter to the website).

Herders’
letter with joint signature

End of 2000

Ujumchin Left Banner Mand-bulag Som’s
herders and former “educated youth” who lived in Mand-bulag
Som draft a letter of appeal proposing to protect grassland
eco-system and stop man-made destruction in China’s northern
grassland.

January 2001

Xie Zhen-hua, head of State
Environmental Bureau, makes comment on the joint letter, and
asks the Environmental Bureau’s Investigation Department to
investigate the illegal occupation of grassland in Ujumchin
Left Banner.

10,000 Mu (670 hectare) contracted
grassland of herders from the upper reach of Nariin-gol
River in Mand-bulag Som of Ujumchin Left Banner was occupied
by a unit of the Open Economic Zone for coal plant.

Jiran-bulag Silver Mine pollution
accident occurs. Herder Sengeerinchin’s is located on the
south eastern corner of the Silver Mine, and his 29 sheep
are poisoned to death after drinking the tailing water that
is drained to his grassland. Because it is lamb delivering
season, many lambs are poisoned to death.

Left Ujumchin
Banner Environmental Bureau receive reports about another
accident in which herders’ livestock are killed for drinking
cyanogens contained sewage water, and the following day
personnel is sent to investigate. On July 6, the
Environmental Bureau reports to the Banner Government. After
11 days, Left Ujumchin People’s Government suspends the Silver Mine from
operating to resolve the pollution problem.

Choboolong Iron-Zinc-Multimetal Mine
workers increase to 400 people, and 6 shafts are opened up.
Slag and ore are dumped everywhere. 12 more shafts are under
construction, and a 100 meter long 2 meter high dam is built
with bulldozer at the left side of the main mine for
collecting sewage. This mine occupies 4,000 Mu (270 hectare)
best quality grassland, and violates following provisions:

<<Chinese Land Management Law>>: “…
Article 45, to take over to make use of the following lands,
State Department approval is needed: (1), basic farmland;
(2), cultivated areas other than basic farmland exceeded 35
hectares; (3), other type of lands exceeded 70 hectares …”

Correspondents from Guangming daily and
Economic Daily report to the State Environmental Bureau
about the industrial pollution in Ujumchin Left Banner.

Document

November 2001

Left Ujumchin Choboolong Iron-Zinc-Multimetal
Mine is suspended from operation under the interventions of
State Environmental Bureau and the Environmental Bureau of
Inner Mongolian Autonomous Region. Because of the violation
of “Environmental Protection and Management Provision for
Development Projects”, the Autonomous Region Environmental
Bureau decides to impose an administrative penalty on the
mine.

Premier Zhu Rong-ji speaks to Inner
Mongolian representatives at the People’s Congress: Inner
Mongolian economic development must fully take advantage of
its favorable natural condition for animal husbandry to
develop animal husbandry related international standard
modern processing industries, and must not put emphasis on
ambiguous industrial development and redundant
constructions. ( see People’s Daily and Inner Mongolia Daily
reports on March 8, 2002).

Premier Zhu Rong-ji’s speech

April 2002

Choboolong Iron-Zinc-Multimetal Mine
occupies Baljuur and other herders’ contracted grassland to
build houses and open up mines. Lawyers from “Center for
Legal Assistance to Chinese Pollution Victims”, along with
former “educate youths” of Ujumchin Left Banner visit the
grassland to investigate. “Friends of Nature” pays close
attention to Inner Mongolian environmental issues and
proposes the “Wild Horses Return to the Grassland”
environmental education project.

The website plans to print the second
part of Mongolian-Chinese bilingual version of “Legal
Handbook for Farmers and Herders Use”, and asks for
assistance from the Legal Committee under the Inner
Mongolian People’s Congress, National Language Translation
Bureau under Central Government, and editors and translators
with National Publishing House. Under the support from
online friends and financial assistance from Beijing De Huan
Law Firm and Mr. Mo Hua of Aerospace 35 Station, Beijing
National Publishing House publishes the handbook.

The website’s former “educated youth”
cooperate with “Friends of Nature’s” “wild horse” mobile
workshop vehicle to visit Ujumchin Left Banner’s two Soms to
carry out environmental education activities and lecture to
heads and secretaries of Gachaas. 500 copies of “Legal
Handbook for Farmers and Herders Use” are distributed among
Ujumchin Left Banner herders, Gachaa heads, Gachaa
secretaries, and people’s representatives Banners.

About Wild Horse vehicle

Friends of Nature

June 2002

The website’s former “educated youths”
guide Ujumchin Left Banner herders to meet with “Friends of
Nature” to report the paper mill pollution, contact to hire
lawyers in Beijing as legal representatives, and sign on
contracts on behalf of the herders. Mr. Liang Congjie
reports on the grassland environmental problem to State
Environmental Bureau and Central Government through Chinese
People’s Political Consultative Conference.

Document

June 2002

“Legal Assistance Center for Chinese
Pollution Victims” again sends lawyers to Ujumchin Left
Banner’s Mand Som to complete the written complaint and sign
on the contract with herders.

Document

Mid-June 2002

State Environmental Bureau sends
investigation team and Guangming Daily correspondents to
Ujumchin Left Banner to investigate industrial pollution
problems, and give an on-the-spot order to the paper mill to
stop production. However, the paper mill resumes its
operation and continues to drain sewage right after the
investigation team left.

Our members guide “Green Beijing”
environmental study group to Left Ujumchin Banner, and speak
with herders. We rent Mand Som herders’ 4 jeeps for part of
the trip and the whole journey is 5,000 kilometers.
Witnessing Ujumchin Left Banner grassland pollution, we took
samples from the sewage and brought them to Beijing Academy
of Environmental Science. It proves that the paper mill’s
sewage pollution is extremely high.

Shiliin-gol
League People’s Intermediate Court hears Ujumchin Left
Banner herders’ complaint against the paper mill’s pollution
in the grassland, and Beijing De Heng Law Firm lawyer works
as plaintiff’s attorney.

Document

September 2002

Officials of Ujumchin Left Banner and
Shiliin-gol League pay attention to the case and send
personnel to herders to mediate the dispute.

Inner Mongolian Standing Committee
member and the paper mill owner visit Beijing to lobby to
“Today’s Legal Matters” correspondents and other units.

October 15, 2002

Ujumchin Left
Banner Government Document (No.88, in Mongolian) asks
Mand-bulag Som herders to accept 220,000 yuan as
compensation and give up for the grassland that was already
occupied by the Iron-Zinc Mine. Herders refuse to accept.

Photo copy

November 12, 2002

Local government sends personnel to
Beijing.

November 15, 2002

head of Ujumchin Left Banner decides to
take over 7583 Mu (505 hectare) basic grassland as state
owned land and give it to Choboolong Iron-Zinc Mine to use
(No.24 Document, in Mongolian). Under the tremendous
pressure, Mand-bulag Som’s plaintiff agrees drop the lawsuit
against the company.

Photo copy

November 16, 2002

Beijing’s former “educated youth” mark
35th anniversaries of living and working in the
countryside of Mand-bulag in
mark 35 anniversary of Ujumchin Left Banner Mand-bulag 505
hectare) basic grassland as state ownership land and give it
to ChobUjumchin Left Banner. Three Gachaa leaders
from the Banner attend the event, and the former “educated
youth” donate 3 computers, Mongolian version of legal and
environmental education books, and Video CDs to the herders.

Photo

December 16, 2002

Ujumchin Left
BannerGovernment issues an official document to withdraw the
plaintiff (of paper mill and herders’ case) herders’ right
to manage the grassland.

Photo copy

December 2002

Ujumchin
Left BannerEnkh-jargal Gachaa’s secretary Mr. Soyolt is
dismissed from post because of his support for herders to
protect their legal rights.

Ujumchin Left
Banner Party Committee and Banner Government jointly hold a
meeting to take over Enkh-jargal Gachaa’s herders’
contracted grassland of 10,730 Mu (715 hectare), and alter
its ownership and turn it to the paper mill to use. Some
herders were forced to drop their lawsuits against the
company.

(3) Case of transferring pollutions to
western areas. Protecting and improving western regions’
environment and preventing environmentally harmful
industries, technologies, and equipment from transferring to
western regions are an extremely important requirement and
task. However, some areas, just for short term profit, are
victimizing environment to transfer pollutions to western
areas … Bulag Mining Company and Dianhua Paper Mill jointly
run by Shiliin-gol League’s Ujumchin Left Banner, Shandong
Province, and Hebei Province, without pollution treatment
equipment, directly polluted grassland, and brought serious
damage to local eco-system. The above mentioned enterprises
have already been suspended from production by the local
government to adjust themselves within a certain timeframe.

“Legal Handbook for Farmers and Herders
Use” (Mongolian version) Third Part is published by National
Publishing House. Sponsored by Beijing De Heng Law Firm. 100
copies are given out to Ujumchin Left Banner herders and
cadres who came to the exhibition. Our website publishes
online “Grassland Law” Mongolian version.

A herder of Mand-bulag in Ujumchin Left
Banner reports over the phone: more than 10,000 Mu (6.7
hectare ) contracted grassland around the upper reaches of
Shilingol River is still being occupied and cultivated.

Photo copy

June, 2003

Elected Gachaa Leader and the herders
in Bayan-uul Gacha , Mandu Sumu of Ujumchin Left Banner
clears out more than 50,000 heads of livestock of
non-contractors based on the “Grassland Act”.

June 16, 2003

The heads of Ujumchin Left Banner and
Shiliin-gol League Environmental Protection Bureau visit
Beijing and hold conference with Guangming Daily reporters
and former educated youths to express that “they have
already rethought profoundly about environmental issues
during industrial economic development, and have taken
effective countermeasures to make a comprehensive
adjustment”.

June 25, 2003

Office of the Ujumchin Left Banner
people’s government’s “Announcement of Matters Regarding
Strengthening the Wu-Ba Line and Bulag-Bayanhuv Line Highway
Construction Land Use Works” is issued.

Photo copy
second page

July 26, 2003

“Conference on Inner Mongolian
Grassland Protection and Use and Industrial Development and
the protection of Ujumchin Left Banner’s Natural Grassland”
is held in Beijing

4,000 copies of “Legal Handbook for
Farmers and Herders Use, Part 4” (in Mongolian)” are
published by the Beijing National Publishing House,
sponsored by “Nutuge Forum” online friends, and distributed
among the Mongolian speaking agricultural and pastoral areas
nationwide through volunteers to promote legal education.

Legal handbook

March 11, 2004

On March
11, 2004, Shiliin-gol League Intermediate Court settles the Ujumchin
Left Banner Paper Mill case which was placed on file for
persecution on August 8, 2002. The court orders the Ujumchin
Left Paper Mill and the third party to pay 260,000
yuan (30,000 US dollar) to the plaintiff (herders) for
pollution losses. On March 24, the court decision is
delivered to the plaintiff (herders).

The second instance ruling of the
pollution case by Inner Mongolian Autonomous Region Higher
People’s Court is delivered to the plaintiff (herders). The
court orders the defendant to pay 280,000 yuan (33,000 US
dollars) to the plaintiff as compensation of pollution
losses.

Herders’ phone call: Inner Mongolian
Autonomous Region Higher People’s Court’s ruling on 360,000
yuan (45,000 US dollars) compensation has still not been
implemented even though the court ordered the defendant and
third party to pay this compensation to the plaintiff within
10 days starting from August 9, 2004.